The second half of Exodus chapter 12 picks up immediately after God struck all the first-born males throughout Egypt. We cannot imagine the complete devastation or the sound of grieving. “Pharaoh and all his officials and all of the Egyptians got up during the night and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house in Egypt without someone dead.” In his grief, Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your flocks and your herds as you said and go“. And Pharaoh adds, “And bless me also“. This is not the first time Pharaoh asked Moses to bless him, but in his grief, he may finally be sincere. There are hurting people all around us that simply need to know they are not alone. Galatians chapter 6 instructs us how to deal with those with repentant hearts, “Restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness… Bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ“. Don’t misunderstand, the apostle Paul writes, “God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap“. The consequences of our rebellion do not go away, but Paul says, “while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men and especially to those who are the household of faith.” Our role is one of restoration, not condemnation.
The Egyptians are ready for the Israelites to leave, “For otherwise we will all die!” We read, “The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing.” And “the Lord made the Egyptian people favorably disposed toward the people and they gave them what they asked for and they plundered the Egyptians.” Interestingly, when we come to Christ, we often have our own exodus experience as God takes away certain habits and lifestyles. Often our old friends encourage our departure when we no longer participate in their misery. Next, we read that the Israelites journeyed to Succoth. “There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, beside the women and children“. It is estimated that more than 2 million people left Egypt for the promised land. In addition to the Hebrews, it says, “many other people went up with them“; undoubtedly there were Egyptians that came to believe in the God of the Hebrews because of the plagues. We read that “the Israelites lived in Egypt for 430 years to the day“. God kept His people isolated and undefiled by not intermarrying with the pagan people of Canaan and after 430 years of segregation the nation of Israel is born.
The Lord then told Moses, “These are the regulations for the Passover“. It is not to be taken lightly; “No foreigner is to eat of it… any slave may eat …after you circumcise him… a hired worker may not eat of it“. Clearly the Passover meal is not to be undertaken on a whim! He adds, “It is to be eaten inside one house… Do not break any bones“. “All of the Israelites did just as the Lord had commanded“. As believers, we know that “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). And according to prophesy, “Not a bone of Him shall be broken“. Like the Israelites we are not to take our Passover lightly. In Luke 14:28, Jesus teaches a parable and asks, “For which of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost?” What precious thing are you holding onto that is worth more than salvation?